Iran positive about creation of railway route via Garabagh region - Erdogan

Iran has a positive attitude towards participating in the creation of transport routes through Garabagh region, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told reporters upon returning from a working trip to Nakhchivan.

"If we want to see peace routes in the Zangezur and Lachin corridors, then we need to resolve these issues calmly and without conflicts. As for the train that will go from Türkiye to Nakhchivan, through Armenia to Azerbaijan, then we need to consider its passage through Armenia. If Armenia does not participate, then how will the route go? Through Iran. Iran has a positive attitude towards this, so a route through Iran to Azerbaijan can be created," the state-run Anadolu agency quoted the Turkish president as saying, TASS reports.

Erdogan also said that "ensuring direct connections between Nakhchivan and other regions of Azerbaijan through roads and railways is a priority for Ankara and Baku and will strengthen their relations."

"We will do everything possible to open this corridor as soon as possible. This is a strategic issue and it must be resolved. When this is done, a vehicle or train leaving Baku will be able to arrive directly at Kars. It is good to see positive signals from Iran on this issue," Erdogan said.

Touching upon cooperation between Türkiye and Azerbaijan on developing energy logistics, the Turkish leader noted that the issue of increasing transportation through the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) is being discussed. He stressed that increasing the capacity of the pipeline "through Türkiye to Europe will serve the interests of both countries and will contribute to the energy security of Europe."

On September 25, Erdogan arrived on a short visit to the city of Nakhchivan, where he held talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The presidents of the two states signed a protocol of intent on the Kars- Nakhchivan railway project.